Daystar Falcon’s player Patrick Odongo dedicated his LG/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month award for September to his late mother who passed away a few days before he flew out with the Shujaa rugby sevens team to represent the country in the do-or-die Olympic qualifiers.
During the Africa 7s event held in Zimbabwe on September 17, the 19-year-old stood out as Shujaa’s top scorer alongside John Okoth and emerged as the hero of the finals, making two crucial tries in the intense match against South Africa, leading Kenya to a 17-12 victory which served as a qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite his on-field heroics, Odongo bore the weight of personal tragedy, as he had lost his mother on September 9, just before the team’s journey to Zimbabwe. Nevertheless, the young athlete displayed incredible resilience, proudly wearing the Shujaa shirt for the first time and delivering a stellar performance.
To recognize his outstanding achievements, Odongo was honoured with an LG Top Freezer Refrigerator valued at Sh115,000, marking the first time this year that a rugby player received the prestigious LG/SJAK monthly award.
In a heartfelt speech after receiving the award, Odongo shared the significance of this achievement. He revealed, “It feels so great winning an award like this, and it really motivates me. I can say it was a very tough month–losing my mum, my loved one.
“Getting a chance to travel to Zimbabwe was my debut. And, making a debut and winning such prizes is really motivating. It really means a lot and makes me keep on pushing every moment wanting to win more awards like this. I trusted the process.”
He proceeded to dedicate the award to his late mother and expressed his unwavering commitment to securing medals for Kenya in all future tournaments.
“I also want to dedicate this (award) to her. She has been my motivation and everything that I do now, I dedicate to her. My dream, going forward, is nothing less than a medal for Kenya in every tournament we go,” he said.
Odongo’s dream remains steadfast, and he believes in the potential to triumph over any opponent, as evidenced by Kenya’s victory over South Africa in a memorable match.
DongWon Lee, Managing Director of LG Electronics EA, commended Odongo for his remarkable September performance, highlighting how he had overcome adversity through hard work and dedication.
“Odongo overcame various obstacles and hardships, demonstrating that with determination, hard work, and discipline in sports, one can achieve remarkable results. What’s even more impressive is that Odongo has followed in the footsteps of Aldrine Kibet, another young talent who won the August award.
“His success on the rugby pitch serves as an inspiration not only to young rugby players but also to the entire global sports community,” he said.
